Eco-friendly Pro-age Cosmetic Using Green Extraction of <i>Passiflora cincinnata</i>

Green cosmetics using native species promote sustainability both through species preservation and by generating value for local communities, a movement increasingly appreciated by consumers. An example of a native Brazilian species is Passiflora cincinnata, which is rich in phenolic compounds and resilient to the Caatinga, an extremely hostile Brazilian biome. In this study, using mass spectrometry and molecular networking, to determine the chemical composition of the species and investigate the influence of the dry and rainy seasons on its antioxidant activity through multivariate analyses. The chemical information supported the development of a nanoemulsion formulation using a spontaneous emulsification method. For this development, a 22 + 2 axial point central composite design of experiments was applied. The chemical profile of P. cincinnata demonstrated an abundance of flavonoids. The metabolite intensities were not influenced by the different seasons. High antioxidant activity was shown, which was also unaffected by seasonality. Nanoemulsions presented droplet sizes between 95 and 170 nm, ζ potential between −19 and −38 mV, and PDI between 0.11 and 0.47 and were considered stable after the stability studies. Finally, it was possible to develop a potential new pro-aging cosmetic using green extract from a native species, highlighting Brazilian natural resources.